Philippine Concerts

Category: Concert Reviews

  • 10 Times Cha Eun Woo Smitten Us With His PAK NA PAK Charms In “Just One Ten Minute” In Manila

    10 Times Cha Eun Woo Smitten Us With His PAK NA PAK Charms In “Just One Ten Minute” In Manila

    Written by Danica Lacson

    With his undeniable good looks and seemingly limitless charms, Cha Eun Woo will surely make you swoon that it no longer surprised us that his first ever solo fan meeting in Manila was a sold-out show — filled with his adoring fans who have waited three years to see him once again on the local concert stage.

    Hundreds of fans flocked the New Frontier Theater on October 26 for the Manila leg of the 2019 CHA EUN WOO FIRST FAN MEETING <JUST ONE TEN MINUTE> which saw him visit five cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. Manila served as the second to the last stop of his fan meeting tour.

    And because we can’t get enough of the ASTRO member and that memorable night, we relive the pak na pak moments that got us falling head over heels with Cha Eun Woo over and over again.

    (Photo from Wilbros Live)

    #1 Yi Rim, we mean Cha Eun Woo, serenading Arohas in hanbok

    Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung may be over, wrapping its 40-episode run in September after almost two months, but Cha Eun Woo will not let us move on. The ASTRO member brought Yi Rim, his character in the drama, to the Philippines as he channels the prince during his opening number!

    Dressed in hanbok (Korean traditional clothing), Cha Eun Woo serenaded the crowd with “Please Remember”, his official soundtrack for the drama. During the talk portion, the singer-actor revealed that the hanbok he wore is the same hanbok he wore during the filming of the drama.

    https://twitter.com/philconcerts/status/1188036809416011776

    #2 Going back in time to pre-debut Cha Eun Woo with the CHApago Challenge

    In case you did not know, a little over a month before debuting as a member of ASTRO in 2016, Cha Eun Woo participated in the well-known entertainment program Star Golden Bell Challenge. Although he used his real name Lee Dong Min, the show’s host still found out his stage name.

    Fast forward to three years after, Lee Dong Min is now known worldwide as ASTRO’s vocalist and the face genius Cha Eun Woo. Still, despite his huge popularity all over the world, the singer-actor used his fan meeting as an opportunity to look back on his Star Golden Bell Challenge stint through the CHApago Challenge where his memory was tested.

    It was truly a nostalgic moment because he also wore the same style of clothing he donned back then — complete with the red cap!

    (Photo from Wilbros Live)

    #3 When he re-enacted a scene from Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung!

    We screamed “cute”! The ASTRO member was too adorable for words when he re-enacted his reaction in the drama after getting a kiss on the cheek from Goo Hae Ryung, played by Shin Se Kyung.

    Asked if he is also as thoughtful as his character Yi Rim in real life to the extent that he prepares meals for others, he said he cooks ramyeon for his members. But given the chance, he wants to cook traditional Korean food for his fans with the message “Mahal ko kayo“. *melts

    #4 Every time he talks about his members

    We felt how much Arohas miss ASTRO and their desire to see the boys stand on the Philippine concert stage again because every time Cha Eun Woo mentions his members, the crowd goes wild! But more so, we felt the close bond and affection of the boys through the stories the singer-actor shared about them.

    According to him, their leader Jin Jin takes care of them well that when eating out, he usually grills the meat for them. Without Jin Jin, Cha Eun Woo takes the initiative to grill the meat because the rest of the members don’t really know how to do it. He went on to say that Jin Jin, MJ, Moonbin, Rocky, and Sanha told him to meet Arohas well during his fan meeting tour. (Excuse us while we cry in the corner for a minute.)

    #5 That swoon-worthy “Love Yourself” performance with a piano

    Cha Eun Woo reminded us of how talented he is when he performed Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself”. Giving his own rendition to the song, the singer-actor impressed with his piano skills and sweet voice. It was a cute and romantic moment, with fans gamely singing along and lightsticks up in the air forming a beautiful ocean.

    #6 Surprising Arohas with “Kathang Isip” song number

    Probably the highlight of the night, Cha Eun Woo made everyone’s jaw-drop when he started singing along to the familiar melody — Ben & Ben’s “Kathang Isip”! It was a beautiful moment that overwhelmed us with so much feels and admiration for him. Arohas were deeply touched by the effort he put into learning the song and singing it beautiful. Come on! What can’t Cha Eun Woo do?

    #7 Melting us once again with his aegyo

    We are weak for shy Cha Eun Woo to be honest. What started as a confident display of basketball skills — he got 16 shots in *applause applause* — came the failed showcase of soccer skills — it was the basket’s fault, right, Eun Woo? Although he failed to fulfill his mission of getting seven balls in by kicking in the time allotted, we are not, in any bit, complaining because we got cute Cha Eun Woo!

    The ASTRO member was all shy to do the aegyo penalty (He was so cute while being shy trying to be cute). But for his Arohas, he did it, not once, not twice, but thrice!

    https://twitter.com/philconcerts/status/1188089777490288641

    #8 Making a special dreamcatcher for Arohas to get good sleep

    The treats for his beloved Arohas did not end with the “Be Mine” aegyo because he had more up his sleeves. For his fans to get a good night sleep, he made two dreamcatchers! “I made this so that you will have good dreams in your sleep and not have nightmares,” he said. *gets kilig over and over again

    Two lucky fans took home the dreamcatchers and we are 100 percent sure they will have the best sleeps!

    #9 Bringing more colors to the night with a performance of “Rainbow Falling”

    On his final song number that night, Cha Eun Woo took us back to the drama got us believing that a handsome guy will love us regardless of our physical appearance. The singer- actor, who received much love for his character as Do Kyung Seok in the drama My ID is Gangnam Beauty, performed “Rainbow Falling”, his original soundtrack for the JTBC drama.

    #10 Promising to come back

    Although we officially said our farewell to Cha Eun Woo that night, we are holding on to his promise that he will come back! And we are keeping our fingers crossed that the next time he comes to the Philippines, he will be with Jin Jin, MJ, Moonbin, Rocky, and Sanha because we surely need an ASTRO solo concert soon!

    We are capping off this list with that hopeful wish while also smiling from ear-to-ear as we remember all those kilig moments from the 2019 CHA EUN WOO FIRST FAN MEETING <JUST ONE TEN MINUTE> at the New Frontier Theater last October 26.

    https://twitter.com/philconcerts/status/1188095023981588480

    Philippine Concerts extends its gratitude to Wilbros Live for having us. And although the year is approaching its final two months, Wilbros Live has another kilig-filled show for Korean drama fans in November!

    South Korean actor-model Jang Ki Yong, who captivated viewers with his charms in Go Back Couple, Come and Hug Me, Kill It, and Search WWW, is coming to the Philippines for his first ever solo fan meeting. Wilbros Live is bringing 2019 JANG KI YONG 1ST FAN MEETING IN MANILA <FILMOGRAPHY> at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura on November 17. Tickets to the show are now on sale via SM Tickets.

    READ: Jang Ki Yong To Stage His First Ever Fan Meeting In The Philippines In November

  • Kang Daniel Weaves Colorful Memories With PH Danity In “Color On Me” Fan Meeting In Manila

    Kang Daniel Weaves Colorful Memories With PH Danity In “Color On Me” Fan Meeting In Manila

    October 19 witnessed the return of Kang Daniel on the Philippine concert stage after more than a year since last concert of his then-group Wanna One in the country. SM Mall of Asia Arena became colorful and livelier as the Nation’s Center holds his first ever solo fan meeting in the archipelago titled KANG DANIEL FAN MEETING: COLOR ON ME.

    Taking the stage as a solo artist this time, the singer proved that he is indeed South Korea’s best boy through his superb performances and his delightful display of charms that got made the wait of PH Danity worth it.

    Kang Daniel kicked off the momentous event with performances of “Through The Night” and “Color”, tracks from his chart-topping solo debut extended play Color On Me which he released in July this year. His top class performances were reciprocated with loud cheers that showcased the excitement of the fans to see their favorite star live in the Philippine shore.

    Events host Sam Oh then joined the singer on stage for a short talk session. The former Wanna One member took fans to his recently concluded Kuala Lumpur fan meeting and behind-the-scenes of his video series Colorful Daniel by sharing anecdotes and moments from the show and the shoots, respectively. He also revealed that he filmed a Colorful Daniel episode in the Philippines, as well. Look forward to that, PH Danity!

    Knowing how much his local fans missed him, Kang Daniel willingly shared more about himself to his adoring supporters through the TMI MANILA segment. Through that segment, fans found out that he woke up at 11 a.m. on the day of his fan meeting, and like many of us, it takes five to six alarms before he wakes up — very relatable! He also showed a never-before-seen photograph from his Color On Me album. And speaking of album, a lucky Danity got to take home a signed album!

    The display of charms of the singer did not end with the talk session. PH Danity also witnessed him take the challenge of doing the Relay Mini Olympic which involved turning five times, playing basketball (The way he confidently said he’s good at playing basketball got us saying “cute”!), and inserting a thread in a needle. Failing in the first round, the man of the hour took on the penalty of doing the “Rolex” dance challenge — much to the delight of the fans who were once again impressed by his dance skills.

    The night only got better as time passes for fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Kang Daniel also gifted them with a slow dance, boyfriend photos, and push-ups! Only giving fans a short break from all the treats, he then returned on stage for captivating performances of “Horizon” and “What Are You Up To”, songs from the Color On Me EP with the latter being the album’s lead single.

    But Kang Daniel is not the only person with treats up his sleeves because his PH Danity also prepared a special video presentation and banner support for their beloved idol. It was a sweet display of affection and love for the singer — “Daniel’s happiness is our happiness.” It was also a promise to stand with him and always be there for him in his journey.

    Obviously overwhelmed by the love, Kang Daniel was speechless for a moment, repeatedly saying “waaahh” while trying to collect himself. The singer relayed his gratitude for the support and apologized to fans for making them wait. He also promised to come more often. With fans chanting “Kang Daniel, saranghae“, he replied with “me too.” In addition, the singer sent his regards to the people who were affected by the recent earthquake in the southern part of the Philippines. Thank you, Daniel!

    Before bidding goodbye, Kang Daniel made sure his fans went home with unforgettable memories with his special stage of Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and his finale song, “I Hope”, from Color On Me EP. And because all good things must come to an end, KANG DANIEL FAN MEETING: COLOR ON ME ended with the singer going around the stage to say his goodbye and bow to PH Danity all over the arena.

    It may have taken more than a year for it to happen, but KANG DANIEL FAN MEETING: COLOR ON ME at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on October 19 was worth the wait as Kang Daniel and PH Danity weaved colorful moments for an unforgettable memory to look back to as we wait for the return of Kang Daniel on the Philippine concert stage.

    KANG DANIEL FAN MEETING: COLOR ON ME is presented by All Access Production, UnUsUal Entertainment, and KONNECT Entertainment. We would like to extend our gratitude to All Access Production for the invitation to the event.

    Article by Danica Lacson

    Photos by Danica Lacson and Sandra Laureano

     

  • 5 Moments From Lee Seung Gi’s “Vagabond Voyage” Fan Meeting In Manila That Made The Wait Worth It

    5 Moments From Lee Seung Gi’s “Vagabond Voyage” Fan Meeting In Manila That Made The Wait Worth It

    If people will ask me which South Korean actor I want to see in person, Lee Seung Gi will always top my list. He has been my favorite actor since that day I started watching My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho in 2010 where he played Cha Dae Woong, an aspiring actor who fell in love with the adorable Miho, a gumiho, played by Shin Min Ah. I have watched all his dramas — from Shining Inheritance to his current project Vagabond (and if only I could get a copy of The Infamous Chil Sisters, I will probably have binge-watched it already) — and savor every episode of them.

    That is why, that night of October 12, 2019, was a culmination of an almost decade-long of waiting and praying to finally see him on the Philippine shore — not only for me, but more so, for thousands of his Airens who filled the New Frontier Theater with warmth, sincerity, and joy for the one-night-only 2019 LEE SEUNG GI ASIA FAN MEETING <VAGABOND VOYAGE> in Manila.

    Allow me to take you back to that night when the dream has finally ended and has now become a reality as I list down five (from the many) special moments from Vagabond Voyage that made the wait for Lee Seung Gi worth it.

    Moment #1: A Nostalgic Opening Number Of “Because You’re My Woman”

    When the lights dimmed, everyone knew what is about to happen. Excited screams filled the venue, becoming louder when the first beat of “Because You’re My Woman” resonated and Lee Seung Gi finally came into view.

    The feels were overwhelming because the song took everyone back in time to when it all started — in the year 2004 when the then-17-year-old Lee Seung Gi debuted as a singer with the chart-topping hit “Because You’re My Woman” from his first album The Dream of a Moth. Fifteen years after, Philippine Airens got to witness the first ever live performance of the song in their home country.

    The song number was followed by the long-awaited greeting, a testament that, indeed, Lee Seung Gi is finally in the Philippines.

    Moment #2: His Generous Sharing Of Himself During The Talk Portion

    With a 15-year career under his belt and the fan meeting being his first visit in the country, a lot of catching up took place that night. Moreover, there is so much to talk about Lee Seung Gi. He is, in the first place, a Triple Threat Entertainer, who boasts an impressive track record and has been awarded for his works as a singer, actor, and variety show host with his most recent biggest win being a Daesang award for Master In The House from the SBS Entertainment Awards.

    Although he is grateful and honored for the recognition, the singer-actor said he does not put so much sentiment into awards. However, if there is an award for the most hardworking and diligent person, he said he wanted to win that award. And why not? Lee Seung Gi has been working non-stop since his debut and probably the longest break he had was his mandatory military service which he also accomplished well (He was a member of the special forces!).

    In fact, the singer-actor admitted going straight into filming his comeback drama Hwayugi a day after his military discharge. Currently, he stars as Cha Dal Gun in the drama Vagabond. The drama, which airs on SBS and is available on Netflix, reunited him with his Gu Family Book co-star Bae Suzy.

    The talk portion gave fans more reasons to admire Lee Seung Gi and be proud to be a fan of a dedicated person who puts so much of his time and effort into giving his all for his craft. It was also an opportunity to get to know him better (and his cute dog Perro), face palm a bit with his infamous dance, laugh with him when he kinda gave up on working with children again after Little Forest, smile when he said he wanted three children, worry because he got minor cuts and bruises while filming, and be proud at how his hard work has paid off.

     

    Moment #3: When He Only Wants The Best And Safest Lunch Box For His PH Airens

    Probably the cutest segment in the fan meeting, Lee Seung Gi tried his hand in making a lunch box for a lucky fan! It was too adorable to see him seemingly frustrated about the ingredients (especially about the carrot) and the tools laid out in front of him for the task and watch him do his best in making a unique kimbap (rice roll) using seaweed wrapper, rice, cheese, and grapes with mustard, ketchup, and mayo on the side while using his bare hands as requested by his fans. (“Philippine Airens seem to have strong stomachs,” he said.)

    Despite the limited time, ingredients, and tools, Lee Seung Gi did it impressively and got a “masarap” from the chosen fan who traveled all the way from Butuan City to see him that night. The singer-actor himself could not believe that his unique kimbap was approved and immediately put his newly-learned word “masarap” into use, saying “Masarap?! You liar!” to the fan.

    The segment was too cute for words, to be honest, that everyone was just laughing and smiling all throughout while Lee Seung Gi was adorably ranting about the ingredients and tools and worrying about the safety of the food for consumption.

    Aside from preparing a sweet snack for a fan, he also gamely played a relay game with nine fans where he did sipa, jump rope, charades, and one family. Although the game was exhausting, the singer-actor retained his smile all throughout and played well with the fans who also gave their best for their respective teams to win a photo opportunity with their idol. Every Airen will probably say “sana all” because the winning team’s representatives got to take home clothes personally worn by Lee Seung Gi during the filming of Vagabond. Again, all together now, “sana all“.

    Moment #4: That Mini Concert That Got Everyone Up His Or Her Feet!

    A Lee Seung Gi party went down at the New Frontier Theater as the singer-actor went all out and turned the venue into a concert stage, singing songs such as “Delete”, “Smile Boy” and “Let’s Go On A Vacation”. It was a fun memory, seeing the people inside the venue sing along and bop their head to the beat.

    Lee Seung Gi was also filled with energy as he jumps and dances to the music. It maybe a moment that lasted minutes, but it is now a memory that Philippine Airens will keep for a lifetime. As Lee Seung Gi said during the fan meeting, “The first memory is really just the perfect memory I’m so happy to have made it with my Filipino fans.” *cries in the corner

    Moment #5: That Video Message And Those Banners Prepared With So Much Love By PH Airens

    We cannot let this list end without giving a special shoutout to all the Philippine Airens who made the night extra meaningful for Lee Seung Gi and their fellow fans. Fans of the singer-actor made sure their beloved idol felt all the warmth and love in his first ever fan meeting in the Philippines through their fan projects.

    Sincerity was dearly felt that night on how much Lee Seung Gi meant to Philippine Airens through a video presentation that showcased their support and relayed their message to him. They also prepared banners which were raised while they were singing a song for him. It was a touching moment that got us smiling from ear-to-ear, extremely proud of Philippine Airens for their effort and sincere love for Lee Seung Gi.

    Before singing “Delete”, Lee Seung Gi relayed his gratitude to his Philippine Airens. “Thank you for inviting me. I appreciate you for giving me good memories,” he said.

    The 2019 LEE SEUNG GI ASIA FAN MEETING <VAGABOND VOYAGE> in Manila was journey Lee Seung Gi took to meet his Philippine Airens. After 15 years, the dream has finally ended, and the start of another journey has started for the singer-actor and his fans, his guiding compass.

    “In the future, please stay with me and continue being my compass,” Lee Seung Gi said in his special video message during the fan meeting’s finale. And as they have waited for more than a decade for that night, Philippine Airens will surely stay and help their beloved Lee Seung Gi find his route like they always did through these years.

    Written by Danica Lacson

    The 2019 LEE SEUNG GI ASIA FAN MEETING <VAGABOND VOYAGE> in Manila is presented by Hook Entertainment and Applewood and promoted by CDM Entertainment and ABS-CBN Events. Philippine Concerts extends its gratitude to CDM Entertainment for the invitation to the event.

  • Ha Sung Woon, Kim Jae Hwan, And Momoland Spread Good Vibes With Their Charms And Performances In “Good Friends” In Manila

    Ha Sung Woon, Kim Jae Hwan, And Momoland Spread Good Vibes With Their Charms And Performances In “Good Friends” In Manila

    The feeling was all good as Ha Sung Woon, Kim Jae Hwan, and Momoland bring good energy at the Araneta Coliseum on October 5 for Good Friends in Manila.

    The first Saturday of October 2019 saw hundreds of K-Pop fans flock The Big Dome to see their favorite Korean acts perform at the Philippine concert stage in the one-night only event that was presented by DnM Entertainment. HA:NUEL, WIN:D, Hotple, Wannables, and Merries from all over the Philippines (and probably, the world) gathered together and showed their passion and support for idols who also did not hold back in giving their 100-percent in every performance that night.

    Ha Sung Woon kicked off the night with “Bird”, the title track of his solo debut extended play My Moment which was released in February this year and marked his first solo release following the end of Wanna One’s activities. The singer then wasted no time as he followed up “Bird” with “Riding” from his second EP BXXX and his collaboration with rapper Gaekho.

    As if giving his fans to take deep breaths following the heated performances of “Bird” and “Riding”, Ha Sung Woon greeted his fans for the first time as a solo singer. He said it has been a long time since he last saw his fans in the Philippines as it has been more than a year since he stood on the concert stage with Wanna One’s concert in the country last year being the last.

    The Hotshot member also recounted the vacation he had with his friends SHINee’s Taemin, EXO’s Kai, Hotshot’s Timoteo, and VIXX’s Ravi in Cebu. According to him, he enjoyed diving. He then shared his wish to go on a vacation in the Philippine once again — this time, to visit Tagaytay.

    After the brief interview, Ha Sung Woon intensified the energy inside The Big Dome through his stages of “Tell Me I Love You” and “Blue Maze” from My Moment and BXXX, respectively. After a sweet “thank you” and “I love you” to fans and a promise to show good performances in the future, the singer ended his set with “Blue” and “What Are You Doing” (plus a big heart sign as he exits the stage).

    Ha Sung Woon may have concluded his set, but for fans of Wanna One, the night is far from over as Kim Jae Hwan took the baton next and captivated everyone in the venue with his soothing voice as he sang “Begin Again” and “Blow Me” from his debut extended play Another. The night turned hotter when the singer showed off his dancing skills with performance of “Sorry Not Sorry”.

    The night then just got better when Kim Jae Hwan serenaded Araneta Coliseum with “Black Sky”, his original soundtrack from the Korean drama Chief of Staff. But the singer was not done yet as he made it harder to breath for WIN:D and Wannables through the performances of “Neighbors Know My Name” and his finale song “Designer”.

    And Wannables are truly in for a treat because Kim Jae Hwan revealed, although he returned to Manila as a solo artist this time, he enjoyed his visit in the Philippines because he was with fellow Wanna One member Ha Sung Woon! Please give us a moment to collect our feels. But not only that, WIN:D and Wannables! The singer also shared his plans to release a new album soon! However, for those who wish to see actor Kim Jae Hwan, you might have to wait a bit more as he said he wanted to focus on his music in the meantime.

    Before ending his set, the singer relayed his hope for his fans not to forget the night and to keep supporting him in his music and future activities.

    Following Kim Jae Hwan, the girls of Momoland brought their good energy on stage as they perform a total of ten songs that night! Philippine Merries were up for a memorable night as the girl group reciprocated the warmth and love of their fans with great energy and sweet treats.

    Momoland welcomed fans to their land with “Welcome to Momoland”, earning collective cheers from the fans whom the girls thanked for their warm welcome every time they visit the country. The girls then got the crowd falling for their charms in “Falling U”, followed by “Bingo Game” and “Holiday”. The night became extra wonderful as the girl group put an EDM twist to “Wonderful Love”.

    And the night will never be complete without the girls of Momoland performing their latest hit “I’m So Hot” and the hits that catapulted them to Hallyu fame “BAAM” and “Bboom Bboom”. But, aside from the superb performances they gave in Good Friends concert, the girls also gifted the Philippines a thoughtful gift by donating their performance fee that night to the needy children in Antipolo. Thank you, Momoland!

    In addition, the girls also prepared a special gift for their Philippine Merries — a cover of Yeng Constantino’s “Salamat”! “Thank you, Philippines! You mean so much to us,” said the girls as they say goodbye to their fans following the end of the concert. Still, fans of the girl group can look forward to more of Momoland as the girls signed a contract with local television station ABS-CBN. In fact, Nancy is even set to star in a television series with James Reid titled Soulmate.

    Two hours flew by so fast when you are having fun! Although we will miss Ha Sung Woon, Kim Jae Hwan, and Momoland, we got plenty of memories from Good Friends in Manila to remember and cherish as we wait for their return. Thank you to DnM Entertainment for having Philippine Concerts!

    Check out more photos from Good Friends in Manila:

  • 5 Memories From That “One Summer Night” When Jung Hae In Gave Us So Much Love

    5 Memories From That “One Summer Night” When Jung Hae In Gave Us So Much Love

    Unlike most idols and actors, Jung Hae In started his acting career late. He has already completed his military service and finished his tertiary education when he signed under FNC Entertainment, home to FTISLAND, CNBLUE, Lee Dong Gun, and Yoo Jae Suk.

    For a fast-paced and competitive industry such as the Korean entertainment industry, debuting at the age of 26 will require double the hard work to make his solid mark. And Jung Hae In did just that. He started off with supporting roles in the television series Bride of the Century and The Three Musketeers, headlined by his labelmates Lee Hong Ki and Jung Yong Hwa, respectively.

    From 2014 to 2016, he went on to appear in supporting roles and make cameo appearances including as Kim Go Eun’s first love in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Little by little, people are coming to know the name Jung Hae In. And in 2017, his team up with Lee Jong Suk and Bae Suzy for While You Were Sleeping became the turning point — that big break he has been cultivating in the past years.

    The name Jung Hae In became a household name. His filmography continues to list outstanding works including dramas Prison Playbook, Something in the Rain, and One Spring Night, as well as, films The King’s Case Note, Conspiracy: Age of Rebellion, and Heung-boo: The Revolutionist, and his reunion project with Kim Go Eun titled Tune In For Love, Soon, it will include the romance drama Half of a Half with Chae Soo Bin.

    And if there’s one more proof of the immense popularity and Hallyu star status of Jung Hae In, it was last Saturday, September 28, at the New Frontier Theater, where fans from all over the Philippines (and the world) gathered to spend ONE SUMMER NIGHT with the dashing and ever-charming actor.

    Presented by Wilbros Live and FNC Entertainment, the One Spring Night actor returned to the archipelago to once again meet his Filipino fans and captivate them with his charms, values, and wisdom through the JUNG HAE IN FAN MEETING TOUR 2019 – ONE SUMMER NIGHT.

    Reminisce the night with us as we list down five (of the many) memories from that night that we will forever remember and treasure deeply.

    #1 Sweet Serenades from the Man of the Hour

    Jung Hae In kicked off and ended the night with sweet and heartwarming serenades that got all fans falling over and over again with him. He also captivated everyone with his soothing voice through his rendition of “When The Wind Blows”. In addition, he generously granted fans’ request for a “sample” of a song by Paul Kim whom the actor revealed he likes and listens to.

    Although we did not get to personally hear him sing or dance to the boy group’s song, the actor also named popular boy group BTS as one of his favorite artists during the press conference held at Marco Polo Hotel on September 27. According to him, he personally owns an album of the septet and considers their music as a “healing” to him.

    Jung Hae In

    #2 When He Gamely Drank Calamansi Juice

    After welcoming fans to the event with his song, it was time for the Philippines to welcome Jung Hae In to its shore by giving a local taste of the country — calamansi juice. The actor took a short sip of the drink, presented to him by that night’s host Sam Oh. Nodding in approval, he then drank the juice in one shot, clearly loving the mix of sweetness and sourness of the drink.

    Fans watched in astonishment and were obviously impressed by the actor’s willingness — their proud smiles gave it all, to be honest. Aside from giving his approval to the calamansi juice, the actor also admitted wanting to explore the Philippines and have a leisure trip in the country in the future.

    By the way, he also promised to come back! In fact, he wants to come back to the country every year and visit Cebu, La Union, and Boracay.

    #3 All The Things He Generously Shared About Himself

    The fan meeting was a great avenue for fans to get to know Jung Hae In and get an idea of what his personality is like. The actor did not shy away from the questions thrown at him and gamely answered them.
    Want to know more about Jung Hae In? We got you. Here are some things he revealed about himself through his answers to fans’ questions.

    Ever wonder what his skin care routine? Here it is: drinks lots of water, take enough sleep, and face masks!

    • He loves to travel, but because of tight work schedule, he can’t do it as often as he wanted. He also dreams of going on a trip with his family in the future.
    • Jung Hae In is currently busy with the promotional events of his new movie with Kim Go Eun titled Tune In For Love.
    • He arrived on September 27 and his first meal in the country was steak! He also got to try Jollibee and loved the fast food chain’s peach mango pie.
    • Things he does on a flight: go through scripts, watch movies, and sleep.
    • For everyone dreaming of marrying Jung Hae In, just letting you know that he wants to get married before he goes past the age of 40.

    During the XO game he played with the crowd, we found out more about him!

    • He is not a morning and has more than five set of alarm in the morning to help him wake up. Totally relatable, to be honest.
    • He brushes his teeth first before washing his hair or body.
    • Not a morning person, so no breakfast for the actor.
    • In the past week, he did not talk for more than 30 minutes on the phone. He usually have phone conversations with his manager and family members.
    • Another relatable fact about him — he finds it hard to lose weight than gain weight. His go-to diet? It depends on what his character asks of him. He also added that he tends to gain weight easily and swell a lot.
    • Jung Hae In loves beer. He revealed he had a lot of San Miguel beer the night before his fan meeting. He also loves to partner it with chicken (although he contemplated a lot between chicken and pizza).
    • He asks for receipts after finishing a transaction. Although he believes that the society is going paperless soon with the advancement of technology, he seems to lean towards the traditional accounting of keeping receipts.
    • Personal style? Comfortable clothing.
    • He endures his late night hunger, but will satisfy his craving the next day.
    • Soft drinks is essential for fried chicken.
    • He buys apparels first before trying them on.

    #4 The Heartfelt Words He Gave

    In the super adorable and interesting segment of the fan meeting called “Pharmacist For Your Soul”, Jung Hae In brought Yoo Ji Ho, his character in One Spring Night, to New Frontier Theater. Complete with white coat, the actor took on the role of a pharmacist for his fans who sent in their concerns.

    Pharmacist Jung offered prescription and wise advice to the fans depending on their concern.

    For the fan who felt lost and struggling with her future, the actor said, “Your studies are not always the answer. Explore. Try many things you enjoy and through that process, you will find something you are good at. Everyone goes through the same thing, so don’t worry. Fighting!” He then gave her a journal to help her organize her thoughts and as an avenue to write down her feelings.

    To the fan who flew all the way from Indonesia and revealed that she broke up with her boyfriend recently, Jung Hae In offered a wonderful advice — love yourself. Although he appreciates the love of the fan, he relayed his wish for her to put herself first among anyone else. “I hope you come to a place where you love yourself more than anyone else,” he said. He “prescribed” her with a magnifying glass.

    Lastly, a mother who struggles in waking her son up for school and worries about his future received a mug as a “prescription” from Jung Hae In. He also said, “I hope you will remember that, at the end of the day, what is important is your son’s happiness. Support him in whatever he wants to do, so he will be encouraged.”

    #5 Those One-For-The-Books Moments With His Fans

    The JUNG HAE IN FAN MEETING TOUR 2019 – ONE SUMMER NIGHT was indeed a night full of memorable moments for the fans of the actor as he did not let the night slip away without making sure everyone got smiles on their faces and memories to bring home with them.

    He was generous, always accommodating, and sweet. His effort for his fans clearly resonated that night. In fact, he was hands-on in the preparation for the fan meeting and thought of various ways to make it a night to remember.

    Jung Hae In took selfies, hug fans warmly, signed posters, drew T-shirts, and gamely said yes to taking polaroid photos, recording a video greeting, and more. He set aside his tiredness and put on a smile on his face during the hi-touch session with all the fan meeting attendees.

    And so the list is done. These are the memories that got us smiling wide as we look back on the love sent from a summer night by Jung Hae In.

    Philippine Concerts extends its gratitude to Wilbros Live for the invitation to the JUNG HAE IN FAN MEETING TOUR 2019 – ONE SUMMER NIGHT.

    Written by Danica Lacson

  • Mike Shinoda Performs Epic Setlist on Post Traumatic Tour

    Mike Shinoda Performs Epic Setlist on Post Traumatic Tour

    It began with an Instagram story. Before the Manila stop of Mike Shinoda’s Post Traumatic Tour, he took online and asked fans what they wanted to see. Someone suggested he smash one song from every Linkin Park album. But this is Mike Shinoda, the man, the myth, the legend, and by the end of the night he represented every studio album from Linkin Park, Fort Minor, and Mike Shinoda.

    Mike had the stage presence and crowd command of a full band, backed by multi-instrumentalists Dan Mayo and Matthias Harris. A backdrop of waltzing smoke and blinding choreographed lights set the tone for every track. This was the penultimate destination of his world tour and the last headlining stop.

    Mixes and mashups helped navigate through his extensive discography. For the first time ever, he mixed Lift Off with High Voltage and Skin to Bone and couldn’t hide his amazement after pulling it off. On Twitter later that evening, he shared how he had to write down the first line of Keys to the Kingdom, which he added into Sorry for Now, describing the lines were a deep cut.

    Gaps between performances were utilized for storytelling. We learned that Castle of Glass, released under the Living Things album, was actually written at the end of production for A Thousand Suns. He also mentioned that Invisible was written for his children to listen to when they grow up and face moments of uncertainty.

    This stop of Post Traumatic saw a couple firsts. It was the tour debut of I.O.U. and the first performance of Worlds on Fire post-music video release. Although Mike has had input on the animated components of his releases, the Worlds on Fire music video is the first time he has drawn characters. The video was published the day before the concert.

    English band Don Broco opened the event with infectious high-energy performances. They were happy to be in the country for the first time, noting that when their track Beautiful Morning came out in 2011, their second biggest listenership was Manila after their local of Bedford. The group later joined Mike for a blazing performance of A Place for My Head.

    The most beautiful part of the evening was Mike playing keys for Numb/Encore and In the End/ Enth E Nd with the audience filling in for singing duties. It’s not everyday you have a duet with the man behind your karaoke staple. He would stop playing the last set of notes and only the audience’s chorus bounced through the walls. There’s a perceptible air of calm and relief broken shortly by claps and howls.

    Whether intentional or not, the concert was a cathartic experience, perhaps more so for those who have followed Mike since Hybrid Theory came out in 2000. The show was heavy on emotions without necessarily being emotional. Two years ago, Mike doubted whether he could continue music and touring. We’re thankful he did.

    Special thanks to Insignia Presents

    Words by Marijo Endriga
    Photos by Carla Barretto

  • Moira Dela Torre Serenades And Inspires In Her “Braver” Concert At The Big Dome

    Moira Dela Torre Serenades And Inspires In Her “Braver” Concert At The Big Dome

    We can 100 percent assure that everyone inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum last September 13, 2019 went home with smiles on their faces — ready to be braver than they were prior to that night — as Moira Dela Torre did not only send shivers down our spines with her soothing voice, but also inspired us to take courage and hang on.

    Despite taking on the theme of winter, Moira’s Braver concert at The Big Dome was filled with warmth as thousands of people witness a realization of a dream and a testament of how far she has come in her career as a singer. It was a proud moment for everyone who has seen her as a budding artist in the first season of The Voice of the Philippines under the guidance of Black Eyed Peas’ apl.de.ap.

    And fast forward to six years later, the singer-songwriter stood at the SMART Araneta Coliseum for her second solo concert, kicking off the show with “Tagu-Taguan” from her Malaya album. She continued to bewitch everyone with her vocals with her rendition of Monstar88’s “Torete” and Imago’s “Sundo”, followed by the Libertine Amistoso Himig Handog winning song “Titibo-Tibo”.

    It was a concert of gratitude from Moira who dedicated the concert to all the people who made her brave. “This is not about me, but this is about everyone who made me brave. And you made me brave,” she said during the show.

    Every song was heartfelt — equipped with valuable story of hope, love, and faith and reminders that we can get through all these challenges. From the hugot-filled songs “Pahinga” and “EDSA (Emosyong Dinaan sa Awit)” to the uplifting words of “Lion” and the comforting lyrics of “Sabi Ng Lola”, the concert reminded us that we are stronger than any adversary, that all these hugot, in their time, shall also pass.

    Other than the life lessons Moira willingly shared to the audience, Braver was also a celebration of Original Pinoy Music (OPM) as the singer-songwriter generously shared the concert stage with other OPM acts. France and Dave Lamar from Cornerstone opened the show for her, giving the crowd a sweet appetizer before the main show.

    Braver saw the top five finalists of Idol Philippines do duets with Moira who took part in the show as judge, along with Regine Velasquez, Vice Ganda, and James Reid. The singer admitted going through health issues while on the show, but opted to continue her role as judge. According to her, she did not want to let the opportunity pass to be part of someone’s dream come true.

    Miguel started the special stage with “Pagdating Ng Panahon”. Lance took the baton next with “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko”, followed by Lucas who impressed his rendition of “Kahit Kailan”. Moira and Dan then did a sweet duet of “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang”, before Idol Philippines grand winner Zephanie took the stage with “Forevermore”.

    Probably garnering the loudest cheer that night among the special guests is box-office king and singer-actor Daniel Padilla who got everyone kilig with his charming moves to the tune of his and Moira’s Himig Handog song “Mabagal”. Still, nothing can ever slow down the emotions of that night when the hugot emotions once again came alive with I Belong To The Zoo, December Avenue, and Ben & Ben who teamed up with Moira for songs that make up every Pinoy’s hugot playlist.

    I Belong To The Zoo joined the singer-songwriter for “Patawad, Paalam” which now boasts more than 11 million streams on Spotify. Meanwhile, the stage with December Avenue reminded us of the love story of Ethan and Joy in Hello, Love, Goodbye as “Kung Di Rin Lang Ikaw” resonates at The Big Dome.

    The crowd at the venue was fortunate to witness the first live performance of “Paalam” — fresh from its release at midnight of September 13. “Paalam”, a collaboration with Ben & Ben, and “Patawad, Paalam” are part of Moira’s upcoming album Paalam which will be filled with collaborations.

    For Braver, the singer-songwriter tapped the help of her sisters Mariah and Jaime who left everyone awestruck with their heavenly vocals which created a perfect harmony with their sister’s voice. Talent truly runs in the family as the trio left the audience captivated with their performances of “You Are My Sunshine”, “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, and “I Won’t Last A Day Without You”.

    And when it comes to team ups, a Moira x Jason Marvin duet shall never be missed. The singer-songwriter took us back to her wedding day and got people saying “sana all” with kilig with her song “Promise” and her duet with her husband “Ikaw At Ako”.

    Moira ended the night with “Tagpuan” from her Malaya album and a special dedication. Switching up the lyrics of “Tagpuan”, the singer-songwriter sent her gratitude to the crowd with the words “Kayo ang panalangin ko”.

    With Braver, Moira Dela Torre did not only serenaded the thousands of people who came to witness another successful show, but she also used her stage to bring inspiration and hope to people to be braver through her wise words and stories of her experiences.

    Special thanks to Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. and Star Music

  • N. Flying Soars High During their 1st Solo Concert in Manila

    N. Flying Soars High During their 1st Solo Concert in Manila

    Manila was Up All Night with N. Flying as they performed a solid two-hour set at the New Frontier Theater on September 1, 2019. The Korean rap rock band, composed of Lee Seunghyub (vocalist/rapper/leader), Yoo Hweseung (vocalist), Cha Hun (guitarist) and Kim Jaehyun (drummer), left a lasting impression as they dished out their hits one by one with some special twists for Filipino N. Fias (the name of their official fanbase).

    Their Up All Night Tour marks their second visit to the Philippines –the first one being their participation at the K-Pop Republic 2 with other K-pop groups in 2017, but this is their first time to be the main act.

    Having made their debut in Japan on 2013 and subsequently in Korea on 2015, N. Flying are steadily developing their own brand of music which can be described as pop-rock infused with elements of rap with the splash of color and charm that K-pop has to offer. Although essentially considered as an idol group, the band members are highly proficient in playing their musical instruments, and are active in the production and composition of their songs. While they had experienced a few setbacks due to a few lineup changes over the years, their concert here proved that they are more than capable of holding it together.

    N. Flying’s stage was simple – the typical rock band set-up with guitars, drums, amps and a piano. The backdrop was a stylized lettering collage of their title tracks interspersed with some of their lyrics. The band kicked off with “Up All Night”, “R U Ready?”, and “Preview”, immediately propelling the audience to get up, jumping and singing along to the beats, various lightsticks and banners raised high.

    “It’s like you’re all performing with us,” Seunghyub said after seeing people’s reactions.


    Indeed, N. Fia’s passion was on a different level, going the extra mile to make the band feel their love. All throughout the concert, they stood up as much as they could, cheering their hearts out. N. Flying, on their part, exuded the same (if not more) energy and excitement their fans had. It was amazing to witness how the members, particularly the vocalists Seunghyub and Hweseung, kept an outstanding rapport with the audience, consistently keeping everyone engaged as they performed. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that the strict enforcement of the no-picture taking rule made the show more intimate. The band members seemed to be really immersed while playing.


    The band also showed their mellow side. Having a catalog of songs with loud riffs and upbeat melodies, they slowed things down with their softer tracks “Like a Flower”, “Crossroad” and “Spring Memories”. “Since it’s always summer in Manila, we plan to make you feel different seasons through music. It will be great if you try to imagine the seasons through our songs,” Seunghyub said.

    Another remarkable thing about their show is the presence of an adept translator (well versed in Korean, Filipino and English) who conveyed their words to the crowd very well. This made their ment/speech more relaxed and more natural. The band members also did their part in studying the Filipino language with the phrases “kamusta”, “maraming salamat po”, “gustong-gusto kita” and “mahal kita”. Jaehyun, the band’s drummer, mentioned that he had tried the famous Jollibee chicken and the local kakanin (rice cake) sapin-sapin.

    N.Flying had another surprise exclusive for Filipino fans: They performed an impressive cover of the 1995 Eraserheads classic “Ang Huling El Bimbo”. Hweseung took the lead in singing and playing the acoustic guitar, nailing every note and word in the song. Seunghyub revealed that Hweseung practiced so much while they were in the hotel, he couldn’t sleep. Even on the way to the concert, he was still singing the same song.

    This was followed by a short Queen medley. Seunghyub donned the mustache and the mic stick a la Freddie Mercury, a comical move, but his vocal prowess shone through. Cha Hun, the band’s guitarist, also showed off his exceptional skills during the guitar solo in “Bohemian Rhapsody”, earning him an encore set due to the crowd’s approving cheers. The setlist also included their hits “How R U Today?”, “Rooftop”, “The Real” and “Fall With You”.

    Filipino N. Fias also prepared a project for the band. They organized a banner project with the words “You are my universe, shine for me” which are lyrics from the track “Rooftop”. The members noticed this and thanked the crowd for it.

    “Ever since I was young and played drums, I had a lot of dreams. Every time I perform, you make me feel different. This is the feeling that I will never be able to feel again. Thank you for making me feel this happy. I will never forget this. I was able to see your bright smiles. Let’s all smile and make happy memories together, okay? Jeongmal jeongmal mahal kita, (I really, really love you)” Jaehyun told the crowd near the end of the concert.

    “You used to say ‘Please come to Manila’ during our Insta-live and V-live broadcasts, and now that we are here, it feels like a miracle. I really wanted to communicate with you more so I’m active in doing those broadcasts. Even if we are far away, I want to be connected with you. I will keep doing my best to show better stages. I will never forget you. Let’s try to make great memories together,” leader Seunghyub expressed. “This voice right now is coming from the sky, but I really mean this. I really, really love you, N. Fia!”

    Seeing N. Flying’s Up All Night Live in Manila was a good experience. Their live performance was a significant level up to their recorded albums. Their passion for performing live and their earnest desire to connect with their fans is impressive and in a way, inspiring. It’s interesting how much higher N. Flying can soar from here on out.

    More bonus: There was a quick high touch session for everyone who attended plus photo-ops for VIP ticket holders. Totally a great way to cap off a great night.

    Special thanks to Three Angles Pro!

    by Sandra Mae Laureano

    Setlist – N. Flying “Up All Night” Live in Manila – September 1, 2019

    Up All Night
    R U Ready?
    Preview
    Anyway
    Lovefool
    Don’t Mess With Me
    Like a Flower
    Crossroad
    Spring Memories
    Ang Huling El Bimbo – Eraserheads cover
    Queen medley – We Will Rock You, Don’t Stop Me Now, We Are the Champions, Bohemian Rhapsody
    Flowerwork
    Endless Summer
    How R U Today?
    Rooftop
    Sunset
    Leave It
    The Real
    Fall With You

    Encore:
    Say Goodbye
    Hot Potato
    Don’t Forget This

  • The Twenty Tour in Manila: Westlife’s Triumphant Return

    The Twenty Tour in Manila: Westlife’s Triumphant Return

    Westlife returned to the Philippines for a concert after 8 years, and the Filipino crowd undoubtedly welcomed them with open arms. The Irish boyband, composed of Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan, held 2 consecutive sold-out shows for The Twenty Tour at the Araneta Coliseum on July 29 and 30. Presented by Wilbros Live, the concerts were well organized from start to finish.

    At the explosion of Western boybands during the 90s to the early 2000s, Westlife certainly stood out. Known as one of the most adored boybands in the Philippines, their popularity bordered on mania during their peak. Their latest songs, albums and music videos were always at the top of the charts for weeks and at times, months. Every time they came to Manila, legions of fans would swarm them at the airport. Their concerts were always sold out. Basically, everyone knew their songs. Any Filipino back then would be able to sing along to the chorus of “Swear It Again”, “If I Let You Go” and “My Love” as if it were the most natural thing to do. Twenty years later, who would have thought they could still incite the same passionate reception in our country?


    “We’re going to have an absolutely incredible time tonight. We’re going to celebrate 20 years of Westlife together. We’re gonna take a journey through all those memories and all those songs,” Shane Filan told the crowd.

    Indeed, it was. Their two-night concert was a fun, sentimental and spectacular trip down memory lane. The Araneta Coliseum was filled with 10,000 people for each night of the concert. Fans who were noticeably of the older generation (late 20s and above) were the mainstays of the crowd, and they were loud and passionate enough to turn the Coliseum into a roaring powerhouse.


    The show started with a memory reel of the band, highlighting their achievements through the years. As if in greeting, the first songs were “Hello My Love”, their first single since their return this year; followed by “Swear It Again”, their first single ever. Their setlist was a mixture of all their trademark hits, their new tracks with some unexpected twists. The Westlife classics were there – “My Love”, “When You’re Looking Like That”, “Uptown Girl” and “If I Let You Go”. Their latest tracks “Better Man” and “Dynamite” from their upcoming album Spectrum also took the spotlight. The intimate acoustic medley, which included snippets of “I Have a Dream”, “Fool Again” and “Queen of My Heart”, was a welcome treat. Surprisingly, the band showed off a more vibrant side of themselves onstage as they incorporated a Queen medley in the mix.



    Westlife proved that age hasn’t slowed them down at all. They still have the energy and the passion to keep the show going. Twenty years into their career, their vocals are still top-notch. They have been on tour since late May, and they’ve had 3 consecutive concerts in 3 different Asian countries before their stop in Manila, but you can barely see any signs of them being exhausted. They were visibly thrilled to perform for the crowd, and they took their time to extend their appreciation.

    “We’re so happy to be here. I told he boys before tonight, ‘Do you remember the Philippines, how loud the fans are?’ It’s always nice to come to your country with so much memories, and to have more memories,” Shane said.


    “I grew up in a farm in Ireland, in the countryside. I couldn’t believe that I came all the way to the other side of the world and all these people knew my mother’s name, my father’s name, my dog’s name, Snoopy (RIP). But anyway, since the very beginning, you guys have been passionate supporters of Westlife. Thank you so much! We love you,” Mark told the crowd.

    “Thank you for all your support. Let me take you back to 1998 to 99 when we were a young band and all of you were a lot younger, too. We started from Ireland, West Coast Europe. We started to travel around the world, and we got to Asia and we landed in Manila, and it seemed like thousands of people were in the airport to greet us. And it was all of your support that led us to return to the Philippines on many occasions,” Nicky recounted during his speech.

    “I know the boys have already said, but I’ve got to say it for myself. It’s so great to be back here. Thank you so much for coming, for showing so much love here tonight. We really appreciate it,” Kian, who was the last to speak, kept his statement short but sincere.

    —

    The Twenty Tour was everything a longtime Westlife fan’s dream come true. As someone who grew up listening to Westlife, their concert in Manila is one of the best things that has happened this year. It’s like a rush of nostalgia, euphoria and melancholia all at the same time.

    The band also has this renewed passion for performing. I was honestly expecting them to be tired from their hectic tour schedule since May. They held concerts in Bangkok, Macau and before coming to Manila, but they were visibly in excellent condition when they performed live – no hint of hoarseness or exhaustion. If anything, they were very giddy as they performed onstage and occasionally threw jokes at each other. I had seen them live on their “Gravity Tour” in Manila on 2011, and compared to their condition 8 years ago, they are notably doing a lot better now. Their live vocals are more powerful now, especially Mark’s (whose high notes soared wonderfully in every song). Shane has always been a great singer with his stable yet emotive singing voice. It was also nice to see Nicky and Kian get their well-deserved exposure in more songs particularly during the Queen medley. The boys are also more comfortable onstage. They goof around more onstage, and they genuinely appear to be enjoying themselves.

    Westlife’s concert also got upgraded in terms of production, visual effects and lighting. It included stylishly produced intermission videos during the set breaks. The led screen at the background of the stage was massive. It would be accurate to say that whole background was actually a led screen, projecting beautifully rendered CG-animated clips to match the songs. To put it in more relatable terms: Imagine the production involved in K-pop concerts – the animated clips plus the burgeoning lights. It seems they’ve incorporated some of those elements in their show.

    Overall, the concert was impressive. It was a visual and aural treat, heightened by Westlife’s natural synchronicity onstage. Seeing Westlife live after so long was worth everything.

    —-

    Hold your breath! It seems we’ll be seeing more of Westlife soon.

    “We’re back after 20 years, but this isn’t only for 1 year. We’re back as a band, and we plan to stay around for a long time,” Shane said near the end of the concert.

    They’re slated to release their new album titled Spectrum later this year, and the boys had hinted a possibility of another tour. One thing’s for sure, though, they are more than welcome to come back to the Philippines.

    Special thanks to WILBROS LIVE!

    Words by Sandra Mae Laureano
    Photos by Carla Barretto and Vince Bern

  • 5SOS Just Woke Up in Manila

    5SOS Just Woke Up in Manila


    The Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer or fondly known as 5SOS took Manila by surprise as they performed an intimate acoustic show for their fans at the New Frontier Theater on July 11. The show, organized by MCA Music, was one that required luck, lots of it. Tickets were given out via raffle for the fans who streamed their single “Easier” and registered online. A staggering count of 38,000 people joined, but only 300 were lucky enough to be part of it.

    Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin were thrilled to perform for the their fans who were just as ecstatic to see them.

    5SOS performed stripped back versions of their tracks including ” Want You Back”, “Who Do You Love”, “Jet Black Heart”, “Easier” and “Youngblood”.


    Having staged a sold-out solo show at the MOA Arena in 2016, 5SOS’ fanbase does not seem to be slowing down. The Filipino crowd’s appreciation for the band was palpable during the show as the 300 fans cheered and sang with them in the same volume and intensity as a full-house theater. More notably, a lot of fans who were unable to get tickets were seen waiting outside the venue, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the boys.

    As a bonus for the exclusive Manila show, a few fans were able to ask the band questions. From the Q&A session, we were able to deduce these bits of info:
    – They had tried adobo and they enjoyed riding a jeepney.
    – If they didn’t become musicians, they would still try to become musicians.
    – They want to collaborate with Miley Cyrus.
    – If their fans could remember one thing about them, it would be that they remained true to themselves throughout their career.
    – Being in a band was their dream from the beginning.


    To cap off the Q&A session, the fans pulled a surprise for Luke and Ashton whose birthdays were on July. A cake was prepared for each of them and the fans sang “Happy Birthday” as they blew their candles.

    “A lot of you have followed this group for a long time. Thank you for evolving with us! (…) You are beautiful, young, smart people. As a band, I’d like to say ‘thank you’ for us. You are an incredible fandom. Thank you for your time. Thank you for signing up. I know around 40,000 people wanted to come to the show ,” Ashton said before playing “Jet Black Heart”.

    “We hope to continue coming back here to play,” Michael added.

    Special thanks to MCA Music!

    by Sandra Mae Laureano

  • Dancing and Singing the Night Away with Twice

    Dancing and Singing the Night Away with Twice

    Kpop fairy godmother Happee Sy has an unspoken tradition of celebrating her birthday by bringing major Kpop acts to the Philippines: 2015 was Big Bang, 2017 was Super Junior, this 2019 it’s JYP girlgroup Twice

    Twicelights in Manila was highly anticipated by Filipino ONCEs, who have waited 3 years to see the girls perform live and dance to their catchy songs. The weather outside the arena was gloomy but the fans made up for the downpour with a feverish welcome. Team Concert or Team Labas, one couldn’t really tell who’s who as the level of excitement was just the same.

    Surprisingly, the crowd was dominated by fanboys. They chanted religiously to music videos while waiting for the concert to begin, proudly waving their multi-colored Candy Bongs.

    Deafening screams filled the arena as TWICE opened their stage with “Stuck In My Head” , looking beautiful clad in gold-embellished black dresses. The crowd went wild as they performed the hit “Cheer Up” , the chant was particularly thunderous during Sana’s famous “shy shy shy” line. PH ONCEs gladly moved to the beat with “BDZ,” “Yes or Yes,” and” Dance the Night Away.”

    The crowd erupted in shrieks as the members introduced themselves in Filipino, individually greeting their Pinoy fans with a lovely”Mabuhay”.

    “Mabuhay ako si Dahyun. Kumain ka na ba? Ang galing!” which sent the crowd to an uproar. (You are so adorable Dubu!)

    After changing outfits, the girls went back on stage dressed in white flowy dresses. TWICE showed that not only do they pull off cutesy concepts to a tee, they also have powerful vocals. They serenaded the audience with “After Moon”, “You in My Heart” and “Sunset”. Nayeon applauded the crowd saying how nice it was to see a lot of Candy Bongs.

    The group divided up into units for special performances. Sana, Dahyun and Tzuyu wowed the audience with their sexy rendition of Beyonce’s “Dance for You”. Dahyun commented “ONCE, you guys know, these are the sexiest members of Twice”. Jihyo and Momo emulated Taemin’s graceful dance moves for their cover of “Goodbye”. The rest Nayeon, Mina, Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung covered Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way”.

    Twice assembled again as a group and everyone in MOA Arena was up on their feet dancing along to their chart-toppers ” What is Love,” “Like Ohh-Ahh,” “TT,” “Knock Knock,” and the newly-released “Fancy”.


    The girls expressed how grateful and overwhelmed they were for every fan that attended their first concert in the country. Each of them promised to come back again.

    “We also really wanted to meet Manila ONCE. I feel very apologetic to you guys but I’m really thankful to you. As you guys waited for us, we will come back soon, we’ll try out best to comeback soon as possible. Magkikita tayo ulit”- Sana

    “3 years is a long time, thank you guys for waiting for us. It’s our first time here but thank you for welcoming us with this energy. As promised, we will try to comeback. Salamat sa pagpunta nyo”- Mina

    “Thank you guys so much. Of all the ONCE we saw dancing, I think you guys have the most energy. We’ll see each other again soon. Ingat”.- Jihyo

    ” You guys are so loud. I really do wish we could come back to the Philippines to perform for you guys. Masaya kami ngayong gabi!”- Chaeyong

    ” Let’s meet again soon. ONCE, the best kayo!”- Jeongyeon

    “You guys really patiently waited for us. So since this is our first time. I feel really really sorry for you guys. I will really come back to the Philippines. Babalik kami”- Nayeon

    “Thank you guys for waiting. Thank you guys so much for enjoying our songs. I wish we could see each other again in our next concert. Mamimiss ko kayo”- Tzuyu

    “Did you guys have fun? SIGAAAW! Maganda! Even though TWICE and ONCE are far apart but I know our hearts are together. Mahal ko kayo!”- Dahyun

    As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Twice capped off their Twicelights in Manila tour with their song “Stuck” as a gift of gratitude for their ONCEs, the lines of the song capture how they feel towards their fans – “My eyes want to see you, my heart remembers all of you, 24/7 I wanna be with you. I’m stuck on you”.


    Three years in the making, three hours of full blast performance, nine girls, and thousands of fans made for one unforgettable heart-shaking night.

    Special thanks to PULP LIVE WORLD

    Words by Gellie Jam Alonto
    Photos by Josiphine Tagudin and Gellie Jam Alonto

  • BogumBastic Day with Park Bo Gum

    BogumBastic Day with Park Bo Gum


    June 22, 2019, Moa Arena two months after the postponement of his original fan meet date, Park Bo Gum finally meet his Filipino fans. Manila fan meet was the final stop to his 2019 Asian Tour “May Your Every Day Be A Good Day”
    Bogum assured that his most awaited Good Day Tour would be worth the wait and a good day to remember by everyone.
    He opened his tour with a song from DAY 6’s “I Like You” which makes the crowd wild and excited. “I’m so happy to meet you” was his initial greetings for Manila fans. Anne Curtis Smith a multimedia actress and a proven KDRAMA and KPOP fan hosted the event. When Anne mentioned that she is a fan and watched his latest drama “Encounter, Bogum said that she looks like Song Hye Kyo. And you can see how Anne blushed, such a sweetie.

    According to Park Bogum he chose the title of his show because he wants to have a Good Day with fans. And said “It’s Showtime! “

    During the first part, Question and Answer portion was followed and the questions were from his fans.
    Anne : Since this is your first time to do a fan meeting in Philippines, is there anything you want to do it here?
    PBG : Actually I am doing it already, it is having a good day with you guys.
    Anne : 3 things in your bucket list you want to accomplish before you turn 40
    PBG : First get married, second is study abroad and third is acting in foreign movies. I don’t know when will it happen but I want to do it.
    Anne : Any particular habit of yours that you want to change?
    PBG : Yeah, I have it! But it’s a secret, I will just keep it to myself.
    Anne : Let’s go to your recent life, how have you been?
    PBG : I’ve been learning on how to do music, to compose music and atually now I am shooting a new movie.
    It is “Seobok” a thriller film and it is about a human clone, with Gong Yoo. He also said that he is happy to work with him.


    Next part, video showing how busy Park Bo Gum was in a period of time, scenes that are shown from Encounter wherein Anne asked Bogum if it was hard for him to do the part of Kim Jin Hyuk, and he answered “Not at all” saying that he was amazed that he was able to show his feeling to his boss, the character is very brave. Then there was a video clip showing that he is very drunk, as you all know our actor do not drink alcohol that is why it was hard for him to do this part. He told his fans that he always asked his co-actors if he was able to do the drunk part well. Well, it shows, good job!

    Then, 3 lucky fans won to do a particular scene from the Encounter, the first winner they listened to music together. He put on a scarf to the second girl, and lastly a back hug from Bo Gum, such a lucky girl.
    Park Bogum is known to be generous, and it was proven during the event when he continued to give surprise gifts to his fans such as Diffuser made by him. He also gave personal stuff that he used such as shirts, shoes, sweaters, personal photos, calendars, and stuffed toys. And note that it all has his signatures.
    And the second part, it was history! He was able to show off a wide variety of emotions, characters and gifted talents to all his Filipino fans. He definitely won the hearts of his audience. He was energetic from the start up to the end, all of his fans were very happy. During the show, he would ask his fans if they were having a good time and asking everyone to go back to their seat so that they could be comfortable.
    Here’s the setlist and you can say that no one made this far during a fan meeting! Behold!
    “I like you” by Day 6
    “Let’s go see the stars”
    “Through the Night” by IU
    “Always be with You” by Baek Ah Yeun (OST from Encounter)
    “My Person” (OST from Love in the Moonlight)
    “Bounce” by Cho Yong Pil
    “Honey” by JYP
    “Swallowing my Heart” by B14A
    “Entertainer” by PSY
    “Here We Are Together” Infinity Challenge
    “Nasayo na ang Lahat” by Daniel Padilla
    “ I Will Be Here” by Gary V. Bo Gum singing while playing the piano. “One Candle” by G.O.D And of course the Dance break, he danced beautifully with “What is Love” by Twice, “Pretty U” by Seventeen, “Boy with LUV” from BTS which he mentioned that his friend and BTS member Kim Taehyung, taught him the song’s choreography. He also sing and dance with the song “Must have Love”. Park Bogum shined when his fans shouted for him to dance “Boombastic” were he used to perform while promoting “Love in the Moonlight” and he gave in to fans request sing with him then he dances it like no one is watching! Such an angel!
    The last song he performed was “Blessing” by Deulgukhwa. The last message from Bogum to his fans “Always take care, God Bless you all and Thank you so much. Buh- Bye and see you soon! “

    This fan meeting really mark the hearts of the fans who watched it, such an extraordinary engagement to the bg crowd. Showing so much love and appreciation to his fans, Park Bogum is really the “Boyfriend” material of any fangirl. With an explosive stage, with his sweet and wide smile not showing any signs of exhaustion after the performances, this guy really made the fans love him more. We hope to see you very soon again Bo Gum Park! It was definitely a Good Day spent with you.
    Saranghae!

    Words by Jerrami Voluntad

    Special thanks to Ovation Productions

  • K-pop Acts Takeover Manila for KWMF 2019

    K-pop Acts Takeover Manila for KWMF 2019

    K-pop aficionados trooped the Mall of Asia Arena on June 9 as five acts came together for the K-pop World Music Festival. Organized by DnM Entertainment and All Access Production, the festival was a rare opportunity to see several stars under one roof. Sohee, Kim Dong Han, ELRIS, NCT 127, and Red Velvet, turned the Arena into a picturesque sea of pastel coral, lime green, and red as fandoms came lightstick-ready to support their faves.

    There was a lack of videos that are usually screened in Kpop events to hype up the crowd before performances begin, but the energy and camaraderie of the crowd made up for it.

    A Kim Dong Han fan single-handedly broke the ice by shouting the idol’s name in a coarse voice. Pockets of cheering followed after – birthday greetings for NCT 127 members, fanboys uproariously declaring love for Red Velvet’s Joy, and the entire venue turning into Reveluv kingdom as the second floor led the fanchants. Just like that, the event kicked off on a positive note.

    Kim Sohee was first on the stage. An idol who manages a career both as a soloist and a member of Elris, she first caught attention as one-third of Kpop Superstar 6 runner-up KWINS.
    Dressed in a tight-fitted red dress, soloist Sohee was sophisticated and mature, an image which she shed as she later returned with ELRIS. She performed her collab song with Bol4 “Hurry Up”, and a cover of Gain’s “Bloom”.

    Kim Dong Han, who has been to the country as part of JBJ, returned solo. The Produce 101 alum was most engaging with the audience, reaching every part of the stage to say hello and asking everyone to fill in lines of “Record Me”. A rookie soloist, Donghan made an impression with high energy performances of “Sunset”, “Focus” and “Ain’t no Time”, coupled with a winsome personality.

    The audience was transported to summer wonderland with ELRIS’ youthful performances.
    One member short with leader Bella suffering from an injury, they still performed “Summer Dream”, “Heart Bank” and “Pow Pow” seamlessly. The girls, dressed in pastel, were a breath of fresh air with their saccharine voices and gentle smiles. Leader Bella joined on-stage between songs and promised she’ll definitely be injury-free the next time they come by.

    NCT 127 came in strong with a combo of dance anthems “Fire Truck” and “Cherry Bomb”. The group proved to be consummate professionals, showing no trace of having arrived in Manila just a few hours before as they sang “Regular”, “Simon Says” and “Superhuman” with fervor. In Philippine concerts where screams count as currency, there was no shortage for NCT 127, leading the group to declare the night’s turnout as the “most energetic in the world”.


    Red Velvet was the definite highlight of the night. The ladies from SM entertainment turned the event into a solo concert for as long as their five-track setlist allowed. Irene mentioned she hopes to stage a solo concert in the country, and her request was met with overwhelming chants of “solo con” from the crowd. The group offered a solid set that started with “Red Flavor” and ended with “RBB”. Throughout, the audience was not merely doing fan chants, but were singing their hearts out along to entire songs.

    It should be pointed out that the audio could use improvement. While the artists were definitely singing live, their voices were overpowered by the playback, evident in the way the audio levels would be soft and fuzzy during the in-between talks. In a performance-heavy genre like Kpop, live performances are prized commodities and are welcome any day.

    The Kpop wave that stormed into mainstream consciousness in the aughts shows no signs of slowing down and the list of artists visiting the country grows each year. With just five songs each, the concert felt bitin for some spectators, to no one’s fault. Every artist mentioned looking forward to returning to the country another time. It’s now a wait and see who actually returns perhaps for a solo concert and finish what was started.

    Write up by Marijo Endriga
    Photos by Gellie Jam and Vince Bern

    Special thanks to DnM Entertainment and All Access Productions

  • Manila Blooms for Troye Sivan

    Manila Blooms for Troye Sivan

    May 1, 2019 – Smack right in the middle of the scorching Manila summer, Troye Sivan’s “Bloom” Concert Tour at the MOA Arena intensified the heat, making it more vibrant and all the more enticing. Thousands of fans, composed mostly of the younger generation – teenagers to people in their early 20s, were amongst the eager spectators of the evening.

    The 23-year old Australian singer and songwriter is one of the most alluring pop music sensations at present. Troye Sivan’s music is a curious blend of electro-pop and EDM driven by his deeply affective baritone vocals. Freedom, romance, desire and heartbreak are some of the themes of his songs, and curiously enough, he’s able to turn these into stadium-ready anthems. Think “YOUTH”, “FOOLS” and “My! My! My!”.

    Having come out to the public as gay on 2013, Troye Sivan has steadily but surely grown more comfortable in his sexuality. Currently, he’s one of the most famous LGBTQ icons in pop culture. He’s unapologetically queer and flamboyant, and it is made clear in his songs, music videos and interviews. He’s exactly what he claims to be, an endearing personality through and through. It was no wonder how he was able to captivate the Filipino crowd completely.

    Troye Sivan was packed with surprises from the beginning. When the lights went down, everyone’s eyes were glued to the stage. To everyone’s surprise, he made his entrance at the back part of the crowd, near the tech booth. He performed the controversial “Seventeen” and made his way to the main stage right after.

    “The only thing that’s running through my head right now is why did it take me so f—-ing long to be here?”

    Those were some of the first words Troye said to the crowd after hearing their over-the-top screaming and the unabashed karaoke-like singing after he performed “Plum”, the third song in the set. He had gone to Manila on 2017 for a short visit. “It was such a great trip… and you guys have been all I’ve been thinking about since then.”

    Troye Sivan was very candid onstage. Although there were no extravagant costume changes, no grandiose stage production or choreography, he had everyone’s attention by merely singing and swaying to each of his song. His vocals, while mainly baritone, has a deep, sensual tinge to it. He knows how to evoke emotions with the slight inflections and roll of his tone. On top of this, he was backed by a powerful live band which brought more dimensions to his set. His mere presence and music had the Arena hooked, the crowd following his lead from start to finish. That, by itself, was impressive.

    To date, Troye Sivan has released two studio albums – Blue Neighborhood (2015) and Bloom (2018) with several EPs on the side. His setlist contained a mixture of all these. From Blue Neighborhood, “Fools”, “Heaven”, “Wild”. As the namesake of the tour, most were tracks off “Bloom” such as “Plum”, “Lucky Strike”, “What a Heavenly Way to Die”, “My! My! My!”. Collaboration songs were among the crowd favorites as well – hits like “i’m so tired…” (originally with Lauv) “Dance To This” (with Ariana Grande) and “1999” (with Charlie XCX)

    “Maybe it’s the big queer energy in the room, but I feel very at home in the Philippines tonight!” Troye said with a big grin on his face.

    “You are the funnest crowd so far. Thank you so, so much! I don’t even know where to start.”

    The Filipino crowd also came prepared, and Troye was ecstatic about it. Except for knowing every word to all the songs, some fans went the extra mile. Some were dressed to kill in high fashion, some had customized lightsticks and some waved the most interesting banners. At one point, Troye noticed these slogans and fondly mentioned, “These signs are absolutely killing me. Who in the hell made ‘Manila Power Bottom’?”

    The fans also organized a project called “Heaven Rainbow Lights” wherein specific sections of the Arena held up different flashlight colors to form a rainbow as “Heaven” played. The rainbow glowed in the dark and Troye thanked the crowd for it.

    “I’ve seen you jump for me. I’ve heard you scream your lungs out. I wanna see every person in this building believe that they are the baddest bitch in the building. Manila, will you dance with me?”

    In varying intervals, Bloom felt like a rave party with all the dancing, a rock concert with all the screaming and singing, and a sacred gathering with the momentary acoustic sing-alongs. Insert: some intense foot stomping which produced a mild earthquake around the Arena before the encore. It was really quite the experience to go through all that in one evening, and we have Troye Sivan to thank for it.

    “I wanna come back as soon as possible, is that okay?” he asked before playing the last, last song.

    We are pretty sure he knows the answer to that now.

    Special thanks to MMI Live and Live Nation

    by Sandra Mae Laureano
    Photos by Vince Bern

    Troye Sivan: Bloom Live in Manila Setlist

    1. Seventeen

    2. Bloom

    3. Plum

    4. HEAVEN

    5. FOOLS

    6. Lucky Strike

    7. WILD

    8. i’m So Tired…

    9. Postcard

    10. The Good Side

    11. What a Heavenly Way To Die

    12. BITE

    13. 1999

    14. Dance To This

    15. Animal

    16. Youth

    17. My My My!

  • Wanderland Weaves More Magic on its 7th Run

    Wanderland Weaves More Magic on its 7th Run

    Since its debut in 2013, the Wanderland Music Festival has featured a vibrant array of local and international artists of varying genres, its line-up always bringing a mixture of anticipation and wonder among music enthusiasts. With that, the festival has always succeeded in drawing huge crowds from the younger generation – many of which are students and young professionals.

    This year, festival attendees were treated to 2 days of music featuring a bustling lineup of 22 acts with The Kooks and Two Door Cinema Club as co-headliners for each day. Living up to its title “Wanderland Magic” proved to be an enthralling experience for everyone.
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